Angry BDP youths call for Moswaane's head

The outgoing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Francistown West Youth committee is calling for the expulsion of area Member of Parliament (MP) Ignatius Moswaane from the party, accusing him of de-campaigning the party and belittling the President.

Speaking to The Midweek Sun on Monday, Francistown West Youth chairman Lesego Mbereki described Moswaane as a selfish person who only has his personal interests at heart instead of the party’s. Mbereki added that since they were elected into office, they have never worked well with Moswaane because he prefers to do things alone without even consulting area councillors.

He alleged that the MP once sabotaged the area youth after he had agreed to be their chief walker, only to renege and render the walk a complete flop. “If he can disregard his councillors our hands are tied as we are always spectators with little or nothing to do. “What angered us to take the decision to call for his sacking is his continued disregard for party protocols. Last Saturday the Youth Committee was shocked to learn that there were ongoing Francistown Youth Committee elections spearheaded by him without our knowledge, including councillors,” he fumed.

According to Mbereki, BDP procedures prescribe that councillors and the incumbent Youth Committee be informed of the election so that announcements can be made at different wards before the date can be set, something they say Moswaane disregarded. The youth leader alleges that on the same Saturday, a Francistown youth delegation was also elected to represent the constituency in Tsabong at the impending BDP youth congress.

His publicity officer Keolopile Simane added that Moswaane’s continued attack on the party and the president warranted their call for his sacking, failing which the youth will leave the party in large numbers. “We have so far handed a complaint letter to the Francistown West committee as it is the party procedure following which we will serve our outgoing BDP youth president with a similar letter complaining about the attitude of the MP towards the party,” he said.Contacted for comment, Moswaane dismissed the youth allegations as petty talk aimed at bringing him down.

He said all procedures were followed prior to the elections and that he informed all his councilors. However, some councilors interviewed denied ever being informed about the elections. Moswaane said that these were mere youth elections which should not cause any confusion considering that the outgoing Youth Committee has never functioned since its election into office.

Simane fumed: “As it stands, we are not able to defend the party since he is always attacking it even in the media and during his kgotla meetings. He attacks some programmes like Ipelegeng. As a learned MP he should know better that the party holds caucuses before any utterances can be made in public. Why didn’t he table a motion calling for the improvement of Ipelegeng works in Parliament? He has made the party youth to look down upon him as an individual who needs to be given the boot from BDP."

“He even goes to the extent of belittling the President like he did recently at Kgaphamadi where he mocked some old women who were requesting for blankets saying, ‘Nna ga ke yo phakisang dikobo, wa dikobo o etla.’ If the elders won’t take drastic actions against him, we will quit the party,” Simane said.
Councillor Godfrey Kaelo for Monarch West ward told this publication he didn’t know about the elections which were held over the weekend as he never informed his ward since he was not informed.

“I was supposed to be informed so that I pass the information to the youth in my ward and what has transpired is very unfortunate,” he added. Tatitown councillor Gaethusi Ramolotsana concurred with the youth that he was never informed to spread the information to the youth but distanced himself from the youth stance that the MP should be expelled from the party.